Antitipping friction device



April 7, 1931. F. c. MASON ANTITIPPING FRICTION DEVICE Filed July 9, 1925 1K 61 Maw/v I 271161 201 fla M Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK C. MASON, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO METAL STAMPINGS CORPORA- TION, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ANTITIPPING FRICTION DEVICE Application filed July 9,

My invention relates to friction devices for use in connection with carpet sweepers and the like for the purpose of preventing the sweeper from tilting on its pivotal connection with the handle bail when in use. When not equipped with such a device, a carpet sweeper in use will often tip or tilt on the pivot ends of the bail when the operator draws the sweeper back from an extended position, the front end of the sweeper ordinarily rising from the floor thereby losing the effectiveness of the return travel of the sweeper.

The object of my invention is, therefore, to provide a friction device which will be rugged, yet simple of construction and of easy application to a carpet sweeper or other device, which will obviate the above described tilting.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a friction device which will have a means provided to maintain the handle in upright position when not in use.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing my device used in connection with a carpet sweeper.

Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of Fig. 1 indicated by the line 2-2 on Figure 1, and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 011 Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the carpet sweeper having wheels 6 and a brush 7 driven in the usual manner. A handle 8 is attached to a bail 9 in any suitable manner, as by means of a screw threaded socket 10 which is fastened to the bail.

A friction device 11, comprising a base 12, and arm 13 and wings 1414 is mounted at .its base on the side 15 of the carpet sweeper by suitable means such as rivets 16-16. The arm 13 extends from the base in an outward direction, best shown in Figure 3, so that at the arm portion, the wings'are spaced from the side 15 of the sweeper From the arm portion the wings extend outwardly and rearwardly so that the tips 1717 thereof are in contact with the side 15 and exert a spring pressure thereagainst, it being understood that the friction device is preferably made of 1925. Serial No. 42,354.

comparatively thin sheet metal having a suit able degree of resiliency. The wings are preferably arched to more nearly coincide with the path of travel of a portion of the bail. The base 12 may conveniently be apertured as at 18, to admit the inturned pivot ends 19 of the bail which are journaled in bearing members 21. The said bearing members 21 are secured in place by the rivets 16 which also fasten the friction devices in place, and are interposed between the side of the sweeper and a metal plate 22'which provides ample seating means for the rivet heads. This form of bearing member provides a quiet and easy operating connection between the bail and the sweeper which also has the advantage of not requiring lubrication.

By inspection of Figure 2, it will be readily seen thatthe arm of the bail contacts with one of the wings 14 and exerts a pressure thereagainst. As the handle is raised to a more nearly vertical position, it will be readily understood that the bail rides against the wing 14 pressing it inwardly against the tension of the spring arm 13 as well as against the tension of the wing 14.

The friction thus provided between the bail and the sweeper is sufficient to prevent the. forward end of the sweeper from accidentally rising from the floor while at the same time it is not so great that the handle cannot be readily swung on its pivotal connection with the sweeper. An indentation 20 is provided to, engage the arm of the bail when in its vertical position and maintain the same in such position. i

, The described details being illustrative of only one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the scope of the same should be determined by reference to the appended claims, such claims being construed as broadly as possible, consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a sweeper, a handle and abail for connecting the handle to the sweeper, said bail including an arm having its lower end pivotally mounted on a side wall of the sweeper, and an anti-tipping friction device formed of resilient sheet metal comprising a mounting base secured to said wall,

an arm portion projecting from the edge oi said base and spaced outwardly from the wall of the sweeper, and a pair of wing portions at considerable length extending respectively in opposite directions from opposite edges of said arm portion, and each, disposed at an angle to the plane of said arm portion so that their respective ends are disposed in substantially the plane of the base, said wing portions being adapted to resiliently engage a portion of the arm of said bail.

2. In combination, a sweeper, a handle for said sweeper, an arm pivotally connecting said handle to a wall of said sweeper, and friction means interposed between a part of said arm and said wall, and comprising a pair of oppositely extending wing portions having their adjacent ends spaced from said wall and {llOll' outer ends disposed adjacent said wall, a connect ing part also spaced from said wall and connecting said adjacent ends oi. said wing portions, and means for mounting said friction means on said wall so that said adj acent wing portions and connecting part are movable laterally relative to said wall and so that said end portions are movable length wise of said wall as an incident to said lateral movement, and said mounting means 30 serving to yieldingly urge said adjacent wing portions and connecting partto move out wardly from said wall.

3. In a carpet sweeper or the like, the combination of a sweeper body having a side wall 35 provided with an aperture, a handle and a bail for connecting the handle to the sweeper, said bail having an inturned end portion fitting in said wall opening whereby the handle is pivotally connected to said body, and an anti-tipping friction device comprising a base part secured to said wall and provided with an aperture aligned with said wall opening, receiving said inturned bail end portion and serving to reinforce the wall portion of 45 said body around said opening, an arm eX- tending upwardly from the edge of said base and diverging outwardly from said wall into spaced relation to the wall at the upper end of the arm, and a pair of wing portions extending respectively in opposite directions from opposite edges of said arm portion adjacent the top of the latter, said wing por tions extending inwardly from said arm so that the outer ends of said wings are disposed adjacent said wall of said sweeper body, said arm and wing portions being formed of resilient material adapted to yieldingly and frictionally engage a portion of said connecting bail.

FRANK C. MASON. 

